FA Cup Final: Iheanacho Targets First Trophy Against Liverpool

Super Eagles midfielder, Kelechi Iheanacho’s hopes of winning his first laurel in England will come under serious scrutiny as Manchester City face Liverpool’s Kolo Toure in the final of the FA Cup at Wembley, on Sunday.

The Nigerian international, who had his first taste of the UEFA Champions League last week Wednesday as the Citizens defeated Dynamo Kieve 3 – 1 away, will be hoping to keep a starting shirt in what could be a once in a life time experience.

Iheanacho has played a crucial role this ongoing season, coming on as a substitute to score vital goals in the quest for a Barclay’s Premier League title. He has also featured in the FA Cup and knows nothing but the title would be the perfect tonic to end the season.

Statistically, in cup competition, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight games against City (W6 D2) – last losing in an FA Cup fourth-round replay in 1973.

Liverpool have won their last two matches against City and put in arguably their best performance of the season in the only meeting so far this campaign when they annihilated Pellegrini’s side 4 – 1 at the Etihad in November.

These two last met in the League Cup four years ago in the semi-finals, when Liverpool won 1 – 0 away in the first leg before sealing their place in the final with a 2 – 2 draw at Anfield.

Again, Jurgen Klopp has now reached a cup final in each of his last five seasons as a manager, but has lost the last three. He won the DFB Cup with Dortmund in 2012, lost the Champions League final at Wembley in 2013 and lost successive German cup finals in 2014 and 2015.

If Iheanacho wins on Sunday, he would join the likes of Celestine Babayaro, Nwankwo Kanu, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, John Utaka and Daniel Amokachi that have won the oldest and most prestigious cup competition in England.